[time-nuts] Working with SMT parts.
Orin Eman
orin.eman at gmail.com
Sat Aug 13 02:16:02 EDT 2016
On Fri, Aug 12, 2016 at 7:25 PM, Brooke Clarke <brooke at pacific.net> wrote:
> Hi Chris:
>
> ExpressPCB has very easy to use free software for schematic capture (later
> used to check the board wiring) and software for board layout including
> making custom components if their library of stock components does not have
> what you need. The output file format is proprietary, which makes it
> interesting that Far Circuits can read it.
>
> I just have not wanted to go through learning curve for Gerber files and
> all the associated stuff (maybe drilling, silk screen, solder mask) which
> is very easy to do with ExpressPCB.
I did my first 'CAD' PCB with EasyTrax... a DOS program. Must have been
about 1998 as that's the copyright date I put on the board.
Believe me, getting any of the current programs to produce gerber files is
trivial compared to using EasyTrax and making it produce gerber files. In
fact, I usually us itead.cc for small boards and they provide the script to
produce gerber files from Eagle, which is what I currently use. I've also
used OSH Park and you can simply send an Eagle board file to them; just as
easy as using ExpressPCB without the expensive tie-in.
I must admit ExpressPCB leaves me with a sour taste - many published
projects seem to use them as I suppose the author liked the free
software. But then everyone that uses the ExpressPCB files that the author
supplies pays the ExpressPCB premium. $300 in one case and the boards
weren't even flat!
Orin.
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